Hide & Seek (43 page)

“
Hang in there baby, I’m coming for you, tomorrow night,” he told her as Caramel sighed deeply telling him she would be waiting.

Tank deliberately made noise as he stood in the hallway, knowing he’d given her more than enough time to give Ryan the information planted.

“
Yes, I’m eating right now as a matter of fact,” Caramel told him as Tank walked into the room, setting the milk on the desk next to her tray.

Ryan got the hint and continued making small talk with her until they disconnected moments later.

“
If you need anything, call out, I’ll be here,” Tank told her rising to leave.

“
What if you’re sleep,” Caramel asked, wanting to see how many people were in the house with her.

“
I’m a light sleeper,” Tank replied answering her question as he left her alone once more.

Pulling out his cell, he dialed LaRon.

“
It’s all set,” he told him simply as LaRon told him that was good news.

“
You know the when,” he asked as Tank told him he was betting on tomorrow when darkness fell.

“
He needs time to set shit up,” Tank explained as LaRon agreed.

Disconnecting, LaRon called Tariq.

“
Yeah, Tank is right,” he replied. “Ryan isn’t stupid. He won’t come charging in tryna play cowboy and shit,” Tariq went on as LaRon agreed.

“
You on your way,” Tariq asked.

They were all staying at one of the safe houses, deciding it was better for their tactical approach.

“
Yeah, headed there now, stopped to get some beer,” LaRon answered and disconnected.

Sighing deeply he thought about tomorrow night and the impending festivities; “Shit is about to hit the fan on the real,” he murmured grabbing a 12-pack from the cooler and heading to the register to pay.

*****

Ian and Ryan had assembled the troops. It was time to take care of business and end this nonsense.

“
Here’s what’s gonna happen,” Ian told them as they all listened intently. “We’re gonna hit both houses simultaneously,” he threw out as every one nodded their understanding.

“
They won’t be expecting us as it is, but a double surprise will definitely scatter their forces,” he patiently continued to explain.

Ryan liked the idea. He had to give his baby brother credit; Ian was shrewd as hell when it came to a street war.

“
I want everybody dead,” he said simply as the men again murmured their understanding and agreement.

Some of you are going with Ryan and some with me, so we need to go ahead and split into factions now since each attack will be different.

“
For the last time, KiKi nor Caramel are expendable losses,” Ian told them his tone hard and cold as he made eye contact with each man.

“
Tell us the plan Ice, we’re ready,” Dixon replied acknowledging his bosses orders.

They spent the next hour and a half going over the two individual plans, making sure that every T was crossed and every I dotted. They couldn’t afford any slip ups. They got one shot at this, and if they messed up, it could cost the two women their lives.

“
OK, so Andre’, you and Dixon will move out with me,” Ice told them, assigning the others to Ryan.

“
Yeah that’s straight, Ice,” Andre told him, glad he was heading to the house they’d scouted.

Andre was looking forward to the carnage about to be unleashed. Ryan told Reggie and Jose’ to come with him. He wanted to do a drive by on the house and get a better idea of what they were working with. Unlike Ice, he hadn’t had weeks to scout the lay of the land.

“
No problem,” Reggie replied grabbing his weapon, as did Jose and heading to the car. Ian stopped Ryan for a moment when they were alone, addressing him.

“
If this fool Top is there, save that ass for me,” Ian told him calmly as Ryan assured him he was all his.

“
If that asshole Deuce is where you’re at, well, you know,” Ryan threw back as his brother returned the earlier acknowledgement he’d been given.

“
Either way the bullshit ends tomorrow night and we have our empire back on track,” Ryan told him brother who readily agreed.

“
They better not have hurt KiKi,” Ian growled as Ryan agreed with his sentiment.

“
I still haven’t been able to reach Tate,” Ian told his brother, switching gears for a moment.

“
Hmph,” Ryan replied as Ian got the underlying message.

“
Damn,” Ian replied over the implied loss.

Tate was a good solider.

“
The debts will be settled soon though,” Ryan told him breaking his thought once more.

Ian again nodded walking to his bar and making himself a drink.

“
Be invisible out there,” he told Ryan admonishing him to be careful.

Telling him he planned to be, Ryan left his brother sipping his cognac as he went to join the two men patiently waiting outside for him.

*****

DeNoah smiled slightly reading the text message. He’d sent Angie a text almost a week ago when they killed Freight and Myles, letting her know she was safe and could live her life. She’d text back and they’d been communicating since. Angie filled in a lot of the blanks for him where Halle was concerned. DeNoah couldn’t lie and say it didn’t hurt to find out she’d used him and lied too him, but that was the past and DeNoah was trying to live for the present. Angie asked him if he’d ever considered visiting New Jersey. DeNoah told her he might come and see her after everything was said and done here with the business he had to handle. Thinking about business brought his mind back to all the chaos, conflict and death that had been in abundance since they snatched Ice’s girl. Sighing softly, he thought about Role and his ultimate end.

He was stupid,
DeNoah said to himself lighting the blunt he’d rolled and inhaling deeply. He’d tried time and again to tell Role that he was playin a dangerous game between Top and Ice.

“
Bet his stupid ass in hell regretting’ that shit now,” DeNoah mumbled taking yet another hit.

Of course Halle again occupied a huge portion of his mind as he recalled their time together. He also thought about the revelation from Freight about her activities before her death.
She was still fuckin’ this joker too,
DeNoah thought his anger returning. He’d genuinely cared for Halle, introduced her to LaRon and was going to introduce her to Top.
They’re gonna think they got a retard working’ for em after while,
he fumed. Thankfully Mook hadn’t said anything that he knew of to either man about Freight’s death confessions. DeNoah thought about tomorrow night and the violence that would ensue.
Damn sure wanna make sure my ass comes out breathing’,
he thought, Angie flashing in his mind. His cell went off and disturbed his thought as he looked up and saw Ice leaving the club. He’d seen Ryan leave almost an hour earlier but stayed put since that wasn’t his assignment. Answering Angie once more and telling her had to handle something, DeNoah put his phone down and began carefully following the sleek black SL560 driving in front of him.

*****

“
I got it Top,” LaRon was telling him. “I got Tank and DeNoah, I’m straight,” he added as Tariq sighed deeply.

“
OK,” he replied reluctantly.

He’d planned to be attendance when Ryan tried to rescue Caramel.

“
I got a feeling there’s gonna be more shit than we all can handle tomorrow night,” LaRon began again.

There was just the feeling in his gut that they needed to be prepared and Tariq needed to be safe.

“
I’ll be at the house near the state line,” Tariq told him as LaRon grunted his understanding.

“
I’ma be with Top,” Mook said calmly as LaRon told him that was a good idea.

“
Yeah, Jaron and Mace will be here anytime,” he added concerning the soldiers from Mississippi.

“
I feel you on this Deuce,” Tariq told him.

Knowing Ice the way he did, he knew they should be ready and expect any and every thing.

“
We’re headed to the house to put everything in play,” LaRon told them both rising as his cell rang.

“
Yeah,” he spoke into the receiver.

“
Cool, come on,” he replied disconnecting as the knock came to the door moments later. Opening it he invited Jaron and Mace inside.

“
Wassup Deuce, Mook” Jaron greeted the men he recognized, nodding at the one he didn’t.

“
Gentlemen, this is Top,” LaRon introduced as both men smiled brightly and addressed Tariq.

“
Good to meet you Top,” Jaron told him still smiling as Tariq returned the sentiment and asked them both to sit down.

“
Things are about to get real complicated so if you gentlemen aren’t down, now is the time to say so,” Tariq told them honestly.

Mace answered without hesitation.

“
Whatever you need Top, that’s why we here,” he replied simply as Tariq smiled slightly.

“
Good to know.”

Tariq went on to tell them about splitting the team since they expected some sort of shift in move by Ice. Jaron and Mace listened intently as they went over the plans for tomorrow night and what they expected to happen.

“
I want Ice cornered,” Tariq told them evenly. “If you hafta shoot him to keep him there, that’s fine, but do not kill him.”

The men remaining with Tariq acknowledged his direction. LaRon alone understood the depth of the request. Tariq had a lifetime long debt he wanted to pay the man.

“
There are 2 empty rooms on the hall, you can take those, relax get comfortable,” Tariq began again. “Tomorrow is a new day, and if all goes well the end of a nightmare and the beginning of an empire,” he added as the men all murmured their agreement.

LaRon returned to his original task, leaving the group and heading for the safe house, Tank already present, and DeNoah on his way.

36

The sun was shining bright as the city came to life and everyone hurried off to begin their day. Traffic was its usual stop and go as the morning show hosts tried to add humor and help the time pass for commuters. Ryan was unaffected by his surroundings. His mind was far removed from the warmth of the sun and its healing aura, replaced by the impending darkness of both night and death. The only thing on Ryan’s mind this morning was finding Caramel and settling the score. He abruptly switched lanes causing the vehicle behind him to honk as the driver shot him a bird and swerved into the adjacent lane. Unwilling to let the incident go, the irate driver pulled up next to the BMW, window down, hurling expletives at Ryan. Turning calmly to the screaming man, he held up the .10mm in his right hand as the driver’s eyes grew big and he sped off. Chuckling slightly for the first time since he got up, Ryan continued on his journey.

They were meeting at a house close to the club. He recalled Ice saying it belonged to the snitch they’d killed at the club that night. Exiting the freeway Ryan took in the neighborhood as he drove; most of the houses he was sure dated back to the late 60’s, taking in some of the architectural nuances contained. For the most part the neighborhood was clean and the lawns well kept. Of course there wasn’t adequate parking for the three or four cars that each residence seemed to own, so the curbs were littered with the cast offs. After locating the house, Ryan pulled into the driveway right behind Ice’s Benz and turned off his engine. Taking yet another deep breath he readied himself to exit the car. His mind once again recalled the conversation with Tweety and her treachery.
I cannot believe she pulled this bullshit,
he thought angrily of her switch to the other side. Ryan was also hurt, deeply, by her pregnancy. Even though he had a child of his own on the way with Caramel, he was still dismayed that she’d done the same thing.
Not so much fun when it’s your ass on the receiving end huh,
his conscience threw at him. Frowning deeply and dismissing all thought, Ryan exited the vehicle and headed inside where Ice was waiting.

*****

Tariq was toying with the idea of calling Kaitlyn this morning. He really needed to hear her voice before things got ugly. In the end however he didn’t. He, LaRon, and Mook, agreed they didn’t want to talk to their partners before heading into the hell storm that waited. They needed to be focused on their task and precise execution if they wanted it to come out right.
After tonight, no more threat from Ice or Ryan,
Tariq thought as he sipped his coffee. He wanted something stronger, but again today was not the day for slip ups. He needed every mental faculty he possessed in working order without impairment.

“
Wassup Top,” Mook greeted him, disturbing his thoughts as he walked into the kitchen, duffle bag in hand.

“
How’s it going’ Mook,” Tariq answered as the man made himself a cup of coffee.

“
Shit, it ain’t yak, but it’ll hafta do,” Mook replied as Tariq laughed and agreed with his sentiment.

“
What’s in the bag,” Tariq asked motioning.